Garden River, also known as Garden Creek (Cree: ᓂᐦᑖᐏᑭᐦᒋᑫᐤ ᓰᐲᓯᐢ, nihtâwikihcikêw sîpîsis), is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada within Wood Buffalo National Park. It is located on the north shore of the Peace River at the terminus of Garden River Road, an extension of Highway 58,[3] approximately 190 km (120 mi) east of the Town of High Level. It is a First Nations community of the Little Red River Cree Nation.[4]

Garden River ᓂᐦᑖᐏᑭᐦᒋᑫᐤ ᓰᐲᓯᐢ nihtâwikihcikêw sîpîsis Garden Creek
Unincorporated community
Garden River Location within Mackenzie County Show map of Mackenzie County Garden River Location within Alberta Show map of Alberta
Coordinates: 58°42′50″N 113°53′31″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Northern Alberta
Planning region	Lower Peace
Improvement district	24
Returned to Little Red River Cree Nation[1]	June 19, 2017
Area  (2021)[2]
• Land	15.78 km2 (6.09 sq mi)
Population  (2021)[2]
• Total	706
• Density	44.7/km2 (116/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC−07:00 (MST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−06:00 (MDT)
Highways	Garden River Road
Waterways	Peace River

History

Lying 5 kilometers inside the original 1922 boundary of Wood Buffalo National Park, this predominantly First Nations community was never officially recognized by the federal government, until a special amendment to the Canada National Parks Act removed the community from the park on June 19, 2017. Corresponding orders-in-council from the provincial government of Alberta are expected to facilitate the creation of a new Indian reserve encompassing Garden River's territory. This would become the third reserve of the Little Red River Cree Nation, after Fox Lake 162 and John D'Or Prairie 215.[1]

Demographics

In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Garden River had a population of 706 living in 113 of its 133 total private dwellings, a change of 9.8% from its 2016 population of 643. With a land area of 15.78 km² (6.09 sq mi), it had a population density of 44.7/km² (115.9/sq mi) in 2021.[2]

Most of the residents speak Woods Cree at home.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• List of communities in Alberta

References

External links

• Little Red River Cree Nation

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